Gumbies
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Gumbies are a type of recurring character in Monty Python's Flying Circus, characterized by a very distinctive appearance. If a name was listed for them, the surname given would always be "Gumby". Gumbies would wear handkerchiefs on their heads, small moustaches, spectacles, braces, knitted vests, a long-sleeved shirt rolled up to the elbows, and gumboots, which gave them their name. They would usually hold their arms in an ape-like position, speak loudly and slowly, and pronounce words syllable by syllable. Though created by John Cleese, the gumbies were usually played by (and most affectionately remembered as being embodied by) Michael Palin. Many times, a Gumby or group of Gumbies would appear as a means of linking sketches, or briefly give their views in one of the Vox Pops segments. A classic line from one of these is during a segment on taxation, where a Gumby, standing knee-deep in a river, says that he thinks that people who stand in water should be taxed. They also appeared in their own sketches, such as Flower Arranging and Gumby Brain Surgery.
A popular Gumby catchphrase is "My brain hurts!" which was used in the Brain Surgery sketch. This is also heard in the trailer for Monty Python and the Holy Grail, when the crew is supposedly "looking" for someone to voice the trailer. Whilst playing a clip of Arthur knighting a peasant, (which, actually, never made it into the final film) a Gumby (as being voiced by Michael Palin) auditions, and after being told to "Go away!" by the casting director (voiced by Eric Idle), he comments, "What's wrong with my voice? My voice is fine, it's my brain that hurts...". Other recurring Gumby elements are a violent and oafish clumsiness, and enthusiasm for banging bricks together.
In the Pythons' 30th Anniversary Special, all the surviving Pythons (except Idle, who was filled in by Eddie Izzard) played Gumbies.
Frequently, no names were given for Gumbies, but occasionally their names were listed in subtitles. Some of the names given for Gumbies were:
- Prof. R.J. Gumby (played by Graham Chapman, later Michael Palin)
- Prof. F.H. Gumby (played by Eric Idle)
- Prof. L.R. Gumby (played by Graham Chapman)
- Prof. Enid Gumby (played by John Cleese)
- D.P. Gumby (played by Michael Palin)
